Baker & Daniels Announces Firm's Leadership Positions for 2009

Tom Froehle, the law firm's chair and chief executive partner, appointed the following as members of Baker & Daniels' executive committee:

• Roger Flower, chief operating officer;
• John Hoffman, managing partner for emerging practices who focuses his legal practice in intellectual property and health & life sciences;
• Scott Kosnoff, managing partner for professional personnel who practices in insurance and financial services;
• Jackie Simmons, managing partner for client service who leads the firm's China and international practices;
• Greg Utken, managing partner for legal practices who focuses his practice in labor and employment law; and
• Dave Zook, managing partner for consulting practices who advises private and public sectors on federal budgetary, legislative and regulatory matters from the firm's Washington, D.C. office.

Froehle also is a member of the executive committee, which is responsible for day-to-day operations of the firm. Members of the firm's strategic and policy board include Tom Froehle and Roger Flower as well as:

• Dan Boeglin, a partner practicing in health and life sciences;
• Mike Nader, a partner in and practice group leader of the employee benefits practice;
• Hud Pfeiffer, a partner in and practice group leader of the labor and employment practice;
• Charlie Richardson, a partner in and practice group leader of the insurance and financial services practice;
• Andrew Soshnick, a partner practicing in family law matters; and
• Jay Yeager, a partner practicing in business litigation.

The strategic and policy board's members are elected by the firm's partners, and as its name implies, the board is responsible for establishing the strategic direction and policies for the firm.

"Baker & Daniels leadership is tasked with continually exploring ways to best serve our clients," Froehle said. "Our commitment to client service includes knowing our client and its people, understanding our client's business and industry, and developing client service teams and other service delivery approaches to efficiently help our clients meet their particular business objectives."

Froehle said Baker & Daniels continues to pursue strategic initiatives to become better positioned to provide cost effective and valued service to clients. In 2008, the firm opened a Chicago office, which continues to grow; moved into new office space in South Bend and Washington, D.C., which both promote environmentally friendly features; continued to expand its health and life sciences practice; and introduced new client services for manufacturing and logistics, energy and climate change, and sports and entertainment.

Froehle also announced the appointment of new office managing partners in two locations — Dave Kuker in Fort Wayne and Rick Michaels in Chicago. Continuing as office managing partners are Rich Hill in South Bend and Dave Zook in Washington, D.C.